Mohali, November 12
Sikh scholars have called for radical changes in management of the Akal Takht demanding that it be freed from the control of the Shiromani
Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and political parties like the Shiromani Akali Dal. This demand was raised during the two-day seminar on ‘the concept and role of Akal Takht’ organised by the Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh, which concluded at the Shivalik Public School here today.

In the keynote address, Dr Kharak Singh, an eminent Sikh scholar, suggested that the authority of Akal Takht should vest with the guru panth in attendance upon Guru Granth Sahib instead of the SGPC. “The jathedar of Akal Takht should run its independent administration and be a spokesman of Akal Takht. An 11-member advisory board of eminent Sikhs well-versed in gurmat and committed to Sikh ideals should assist him,” he said.

Dr Kharak Singh traced the history of Akal Takht. He said with constitution of the SGPC in 1925, Akal Takht and its jathedar became subservient to the SGPC administration. “This downward slide in the image and role of Akal Takht and near absence of its underlying all inclusive philosophy of Guru Granth Sahib and Guru Panth or “piri and miri” has reached its nadir today with the Akal Takht jathedar being a puppet in the hands of ruling political party governing the SGPC and Akal Takht merely a paper tiger whose edicts are being followed more in their breach than in compliance,” he said. Giani Gurbachan Singh, Head Granthi, Sri
Harmandar Sahib, who inaugurated the seminar recommended that the spiritually and intellectually strongest person among the Sikhs should occupy the seat of the Jathedar of Akal Takht in the tradition of Guru Hargobind who appointed Bhai Gurdas as the first jathedar of Akal Takht.

Dr Jagjit Singh stressed the need for insulating the office of the jathedar from the whims and dictates of the ruling clique in the SGPC and make him moral conscience keeper of the entire Sikh panth. “A committee of 31 prominent Sikhs appointed by the newly formed International Sikh Confederation should re-elect a person for this office,” he said.

Dr Sukhdial Singh said Akal Takht is a symbol of Khalsa resurgence. Dr Kirpal Singh, cleared the confusion regarding the year of establishment of Akal Takht and fixed 1609 as the year of its establishment.

Giani Kewal Singh, former jathedar, Damdama Sahib, said there was a need to coordinate the activities of various takhts. He further reiterated that jathedars were constantly working under pressures of political parties and individuals. “Akal Takth has allowed individuals to become bigger than the panth,” he said adding that there is an urgent need to create a system in which Akal Takht is answerable only to the panth. Giani Harinder Singh, president, Kendri Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Mr Gurdev Singh, chairman, Institute of Sikh Studies, Mr Ashok Singh Bagrian, Secretary, also spoke on the occasion.

Volume 1 of English translation version of Rattan Singh Bhangoo’s ancient Sikh epic Guru Panth Parkash (Prachin Panth Parkash) translated by Prof Kulwant Singh and published by the Institute of Sikh Studies was released by Giani Gurbachan Singh on the occasion.

Barnala, November 12
As many as 475 patients got their eyes treated at a free eye check up camp organised at Kutiya Jhallor, about 12 km from here. A team of doctors led by Dr Hardev Singh, Assistant Professor, Rajindra Hospital, Barnala, treated the patients. Dr Hardev Singh told that 75 patients were treated for cataract and intra-ocular lense were implanted in their eyes, while other patients were treated for various other eye ailments.

Kutiya head Swami Vidyananad told that this was the 15th camp held at kutiya. Medicines, spectacles and contact lenses were distributed free of the cost by
kutiya.

Chandigarh, November 12
The Chief
Director of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, Mohd Izhar Alam, has denied
that a report regarding the City Centre at Ludhiana has been sent to the
government by the Bureau.

Alam has said that the IG-cum-Director, of
the Bureau, Mr C.S.R. Reddy, who is inquiring into the matter, has yet
to submit a report to him and there is no question of it having been
forwarded to the government.

Mr Alam was on leave from November 4 to
11 and he came back to Chandigarh today, hence the question of the
report having been submitted did not arise. — TNS

Ropar, November 12
Delay in awarding compensation to the farmers who had suffered maize crop damages due to supply of poor quality seeds has forced them to approach the consumer forum to seek claims. Acting on the complaint moved by a farmer, Krishan Kumar of Kheri village, Anandpur Sahib, and his five brothers, the president of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Ropar, has issued a notice to the Managing Director of Dhaanya Seeds Private Limited, Banglore, Chairman Markfed, Secretary Agriculture, Director Agriculture, Registrar Cooperative, Punjab for December 20.

Claiming that they had suffered maize crop failure due to supply of poor quality Dhaanya maize seeds 879 (hybrid) seeds, Krishan Kumar has sought a compensation of Rs 2.30 lakh, including the cost he along with his brothers incurred on sowing maize, mental harassment cost of litigation, along with 18 per cent interest per annum till its payment.

He alleged that poor quality seeds were supplied to them through Markfed with assurance of the Agriculture Department that these would yield 20 to 25 quintals per hectare.

He had sown maize seeds on 12-acre land but they failed to give the promised produce. He had approached the concerned departments, but his efforts proved futile. It happened despite the fact that the team of expert had inspected the field and found the complainant’s claim correct.

This is not an isolated case but farmers of over 100 villages in Nangal and Nurpurbedi areas of the district have suffered losses due to damage of maize crop on similar grounds are yet to get the compensation.

Earlier acting on the complaint of farmers, the Chief Agricultural Officer, Dr Harvinder Singh, had submitted a report to the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Alok Shekhar, that the farmers of these areas have suffered 50 to 75 per cent crop damages in mid-September. The DC had recommended appropriate compensation to the farmers from the government.

Barnala, November 12
Hari Puri, Gurnam Singh, Harbans Lal, Nandi and Jeet Ram arrested on October 16 in the State versus Walaiti Puri and others case and in judicial lock-up since then have been denied
bail.

Mr Walaiti Puri, Municipal Councillor of Dhanaula who had earlier been denied bail by the Additional Sessions Judge of Barnala Court, had been granted interim bail by the Punjab And Haryana High Court.

Mr Mirja Puri in his complaint had alleged that Walaiti Puri and Hari Puri on September 26 went to the Rohani Satsang Sehanshah Dera in Dhanaula and threw away the photographs of the deities and the cash chest in the courtyard. When Mirja Puri and others objected, they began using filthy language.

CRIME

3 soldiers held for befooling Army
Dharmendra Joshi
Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, November 12
The district police has arrested three Haryana residents for getting jobs in the Army as soldiers on fake certificates.

According to information, Parminder Singh, Gurdev Singh and Nirmal Singh of a village in Kaithal district in Haryana have been arrested after registration of an FIR against them at Kotwali police station.

The FIR was registered under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC on the complaint of Major Vishal Choudhary of 7 Sikh Light Infantry.

The accused were recruited in the Army as soldiers about three years ago. However, verification found their certificates of matric to be fake.

Subsequently, they were suspended and a complaint was sent to the district police for lodging a FIR against them.

Meanwhile, the three accused were produced before the Duty Magistrate, who remanded them in judicial custody for 14 days.

Amritsar, November 12
The Beas police has arrested a barber, Shahabudin, resident of Khanpur village, for allegedly abducting and raping a minor girl of the same village.

The accused lured a minor girl of the same village and took her to some unknown place about five days ago.

However, after spending the days at various places he left the girl outside Amritsar railway station and fled away.

The girl narrated her story to her parents, who lodged the complaint with the police, which arrested the accused outside a government college. The police got the medical examination of the girl done, which confirmed the rape.

Amritsar, November 12
The Ajnala police booked three members of the in-laws’ family of one Rajan, a resident of Jagdev Khurd, who committed suicide here late last evening.

The accused, identified as Rajkumar, father-in-law, Narinder, brother-in-law, and Neena, sister-in-law, of Rajan, all residents of the same village, have been absconding after the registration of the case under Section 306 of the IPC.

BUSINESS

Reliance set to launch retail operations in Punjab
Ruchika M. KhannaTribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 12
Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Retail is all set to launch its operations in Punjab by the end of December. Other than fruit and vegetable stores, the company will be setting up mega malls (called hyper markets) and consumer durable and information technology (CDIT) stores in the state.

Top officials in the company said that as of now the company proposed to open 32 Reliance fresh stores (fruits and vegetables), two CDIT stores and hyper markets each, besides super markets at various places. “We hope to get the Reliance fresh stores rolling by the end of December, with a store each in Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar,” said the official.

The company has also decided on the locations for setting up these stores in Chandigarh and Panchkula (two each); while exercise is on to find locations for setting up these fruit and vegetable stores in Ambala, Karnal, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and Panipat in Haryana.

The company has already taken land on lease for setting up ten Reliance fresh stores in Jalandhar and nine each in Ludhiana and Amritsar. About 38,000 sq. feet of land has been bought by the company in Ludhiana for setting up a CDIT store, while another 30,000 sq feet of area has been taken on lease in this industrial city for setting up another CDIT store on the Ferozepore road. “These stores will offer all kinds of multi brand computer hardware, consumer durables and white goods. The two CDIT stores are expected to open by the beginning of March,” said a company official.

Other than these, the company will be coming up with two mega malls at Ludhiana and Sangrur. Reliance has bought 1. 2 acres of land at Ludhiana and 1.75 acres of land at Sangrur for this purpose.

Gurdaspur, November 12
The Cooperative Sugar Mill, Paniyar, in Gurdaspur would start its sugarcane milling operations for the current season from November 14. The mill authorities in a press release issued here said the state Cane Commissioner and manager of Sugarfed would preside over the function to be organised for starting the milling operations. Adequate arrangements have been made for giving
prompt payments to the farmers bringing sugarcane to the mill. — TNS